Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-03-18
The Late Col. A, Is. Jewett.
, Condensed from the st. Johnsbury Republi
pau

porn 0O years ago. III loOU Ht euteieu
upon the mercantile business in Swanton
in modest way. His abilities gave him
almost immediate success his business
! was enlarged, and he was soon on the high
road to prosperity. AT different times he
had number of partners, in 1861 his firm
being known as Jewett and Barney, the
junior partner being Col. Edgar l.. Bar
ney, of heroic memory. Col. Jewett re
tanned his interest in the business while
in the army and at the close of his mill
tary service he resumed its management.
He continued his mercantile career until
1871, when, having become absorbingly
interested in the st. Johnsbury and Lake
Champlain railroad, he sold out his bust
| ness at Swanton In 1872 he became SUI
perintendent of the railroad and hence
forth devoted all his time and energy to
its service. He was prominent in local
affairs at Swanton and among other local
offices held the position of selectman for
two years. In August, 1876, he moved to
this place Though he never became citi-
zen of St. Johnsbury, Swanton remaining
his legal RESIDENCE, and all through the
succeeding years has lived at the st.
Johnsbury House.
In early manhood Col. Jewett was mar
ried to Miss Achsah Greene of East Swan
ton, a lovely and amlable lady who sur
| wives him. To them were born two child.
rem, both of whom preceded Col Jewett
| to the grave One was daughter, VINO
married Ezra Gould of Rutland and died
childless many years ago the other was
| a son, George A Jewett, a Young man OF
bright promise, who died in October, 1850,
while member of the sophomore class in
Dartmouth college. Col Jewett was not
nbt rrDh II a a
tendant upon the Episcopal service, of
which church his family were devoted
| members, and was member OF the frst
board of vestrymen of the church of the
| Holy Trinity at Swanton, to which he gave
a handsome memorial window in memory
| of his son.
He leaves large estate-estimated by
some people who knew something of his
affairs as high as 5000, 600. 1t is generally
believed that he left no will
Col. Jewett's military title was derived
from his service in the war of the Union.
CAS- an organizer" says Capt. p. d.
Blodgett Ga veteran of the old Tenth,
Col Jewett was probably superior to any
regimental commander that Vermont ever
sent out. He showed great executive
ability and put the regiment into fine
shape. He was a thorough disciplinarian
and his drill was careful and minute but
at the same time his tact and ability were
such that he got the regiment into sol
dierly, fighting shape without particle
of friction-without jealousies among the
officers and without trouble among the
rank and file. He was careful of his men,
and looked out for their comfort and wei
fare. 1t was his lot to participate only
once in pitched battle-that of Mine
Run, or Orange Grove as 1t is sometimes
called-but on that occasion he showed
brilliant gallantry and courage. Col jew
EFT was good Soldier and his record was
a right creditabe one, and every member
of the old Tenth will say So"
Following his military service, Col
Jewett passed several uneventful years in
the mercantile business at Swanton but
his abundant energies were soon to have
ample scope in the construction of the St
Johnsbury and Lake Champlain railroad
at present the Vermont division of the
Boston and Lowell. From the very incep
ton of the enterprise Col Jewett took ar
active interest and at the very beginning
It was largely through his influence U6d ina
the town of SWantOn voted Sl5,0 900 for the
construction of the road. The road wa:
chartered in 1867 and work upon it wa:
begun three years later Before its com
pletion great commercial panic haC
Frustrated business, unsettled values anC
well nigh destroyed public confidence
and the successful carrying out of the
original plans was attended with every
difficulty and was in every respect a task
fairly gigantic. Col. Jewett finally sue
ceeded, but it was long and hard pull
and he had to make use of every instru
mentality and strain every nerve. 1t useC
to be jOkingly said that he was the first
man that ever built railroad without
either money or credit and the Jest rest
ed upon some basis of fact
The last rail was laid, the last spike
driven, and the first locomotive with tn,
first train of cars passed over the road
from st. Johnsbury to Swanton July L.
1877. 1t was a great day. A train was
run from this place and another from
, Swanton, meeting at the place where the
finishing work was to be done. Col. Jew
EFT addressed Hon. Horace Fairbanks, con
graduating him on the completion of the
great work which had engaged their best
energies for so many years, and closed by
inviting Gov. Fairbanks to drive the Ias
spike-a silver one. The governor made
few appropriate remarks and then with
sedge drove the spike home-aftel
the doXology, Praise God from whom
all blessings fow," Judge Poland anC
others made brief addresses, and then the
company went to Swanton, where the citi
zens rendered grand banquet. The frs
: freight train Qoaded with coal for the
Messrs. Fairbanks passed over the roat
August %, 1877; and from that time tC
this the road has been in successful oper
alton. Col. Jewett was first superintend
ent, then one of the receivers, and ther
manager-being, however, practically sole
manager from the first. Two years since
when the road went into the control o.
the Boston and Lowell, Col. Jewett solo
his large interest to that corporation. He
was, however, continued as superintend
ent until last year, when he retired from
that position and was elected vice presi
dent-an office which he continued TO hole
till the time of his death.
In connection with the railroad enter
prise he and his associates established {
terminus at Maquam Bay, just west o
the village of Swanton, where they bull
wharves, a station, a hotel and made pre-
parations for the founding Of a village.
Col. Jewett was prominent Mason
and in 1873 and 1876 he was Grand Com
mander Of the Knight Templars Of Yer
mont. He took an active interest in the
order lie was a member of Governor
Fairbanks's staff in lS76-7S Colonel jew
EFT had been in intirm health for year oil
two, and last October was taken with &
paralysis of the left leg. He gradually
recovered and in December he went tC
Florida hoping that milder climate
might bring about complete restoration